est, brevis est._ If it be long, 'tis
light; if grievous, it cannot last. It will away, _dies dolorem minuit_,
and if nought else, time will wear it out; custom will ease it; [3571]
oblivion is a common medicine for all losses, injuries, griefs, and
detriments whatsoever, [3572]"and when they are once past, this commodity
comes of infelicity, it makes the rest of our life sweeter unto us:" [3573]
_Atque haec olim meminisse juvabit_, "recollection of the past is
pleasant:" "the privation and want of a thing many times makes it more
pleasant and delightsome than before it was." We must not think the
happiest of us all to escape here without some misfortunes,

[3574] ------"Usque adeo nulla est sincera voluptas,
Solicitumque aliquid laetis intervenit."------

Heaven and earth are much unlike: [3575]"Those heavenly bodies indeed are
freely carried in their orbs without any impediment or interruption, to
continue their course for innumerable ages, and make their conversions: but
men are urged with many difficulties, and have diverse hindrances,
oppositions still crossing, interrupting their endeavours and desires, and
no mortal man is free from this law of nature." We must not therefore hope
to have all things answer our own expectation, to have a continuance of
good success and fortunes, _Fortuna nunquam perpetuo est bona_. And as
Minutius Felix, the Roman consul, told that insulting Coriolanus, drunk
with his good fortunes, look not for that success thou hast hitherto had;
[3576]"It never yet happened to any man since the beginning of the world,
nor ever will, to have all things according to his desire, or to whom
fortune was never opposite and adverse." Even so it fell out to him as he
foretold. And so to others, even to that happiness of Augustus; though he
were Jupiter's almoner, Pluto's treasurer, Neptune's admiral, it could not
secure him. Such was Alcibiades's fortune, Narsetes, that great Gonsalvus,
and most famous men's, that as [3577]Jovius concludes, "it is almost fatal
to great princes, through their own default or otherwise circumvented with
envy and malice, to lose their honours, and die contumeliously." 'Tis so,
still hath been, and ever will be, _Nihil est ab omni parte beatum_,

"There's no perfection is so absolute,
That some impurity doth not pollute."

Whatsoever is under the moon is subject to corruption, alteration; and so
long as thou livest upon earth look not for other. [35